Before she was Rainbow Johnson or Joan Carol Clayton, she was just Tracee. Long before the Emmys and the Golden Globes, the Tracee Ellis Ross model era was already in full swing, and honestly, it wasn't just some side hobby. People see her now as this fashion icon on the red carpet—which she totally is—but they forget that her relationship with clothes isn't just about having a great stylist. It’s in her DNA.
She literally grew up watching her mom, the legendary Diana Ross, navigate the highest echelons of glamour. But Tracee didn't just ride those coattails. She put in the work on the runways of Paris and New York when she was barely out of her teens. It’s wild to think about, right? Most people think she just "arrived" in Hollywood, but the camera was her first real collaborator.
The 90s Runway Scene and the Mugler Connection
Tracee’s modeling career wasn't some localized, catalog-only situation. We are talking high fashion. In 1991, she walked in the Thierry Mugler "Butterfly" show. If you know anything about fashion history, you know Mugler didn't just pick "anybody." His shows were theatrical, demanding, and frankly, kind of intimidating.
Tracee walked that runway alongside her mother. It was a moment. Imagine being 18 or 19 years old, stepping onto a stage that shaped the visual language of the 90s. She wasn't just a "celebrity kid" filling a seat; she had the walk. She had the presence. She understood how to move in clothes that were basically architectural sculptures.
More Than Just a Famous Last Name
There is this misconception that being a Tracee Ellis Ross model meant things were just handed to her. Sure, the door was open, but you can’t fake a runway walk. You can't fake the way light hits your face in a high-glamour editorial for Mirabella or New York Magazine. She was working during the era of the "Supermodel," a time when Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista reigned supreme. To even be in the conversation back then required a specific kind of grit.
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She often talks about how her time in the modeling world shaped her body image. In an industry that was (and let's be real, still is) obsessed with a very specific, narrow version of beauty, Tracee had to find her own footing. She’s mentioned in various interviews how she used to feel like she was "playing a character" while modeling. That realization is probably why she’s such a powerhouse actress now. She learned how to use her body to tell a story long before she had a script in her hand.
Why the Tracee Ellis Ross Model Background Still Matters
You see it in her "Pattern Beauty" branding. You see it when she shows up to the Met Gala. Tracee doesn't just wear clothes; she editorializes them.
When she posts those "outfit of the day" videos on Instagram, that’s the professional model coming out. She understands angles. She knows how fabric is supposed to fall. More importantly, she knows how to subvert the "pretty" standard to do something actually interesting. Most actors get dressed by stylists and look like they’re being wearing by the dress. Tracee? She’s always in control of the garment.
The Pivot to Acting
By the mid-90s, the shift started. She didn't want to just be a silent mannequin.
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- She attended Brown University.
- She studied theater.
- She started realizing that the "character" she played on the runway could have a voice.
It’s a natural progression, really. If you can stand in front of a lens and project an emotion without saying a word, transitioning to dialogue is just the next logical step. Her first film roles in the late 90s, like in Far Harbor, showed glimpses of that poise she learned on the catwalk. But the world really caught on when Girlfriends premiered in 2000. Suddenly, the high-fashion model was the relatable, neurotic, brilliant Joan Clayton.
The Lasting Influence of 90s Editorial Style
If you look back at her early photography, there’s a rawness to it. It wasn't all airbrushed perfection. There was a lot of soul in her eyes. It’s kind of funny how fashion has come full circle—people are now obsessed with that 90s aesthetic that she lived through firsthand.
She’s worked with some of the greats. Herb Ritts. Francesco Scavullo. These aren't just photographers; they were the architects of how we perceive fame. Working with them taught her the "business of the image." It’s why she’s so savvy about her public persona today. She isn't just a "celeb" who happened to get famous; she’s an artist who understands how images are constructed and consumed.
Honestly, the way she uses clothes as a form of self-expression today is a direct rebellion against the "silent" nature of her early modeling days. Back then, she was the canvas. Now, she’s the painter, the canvas, and the museum curator all at once.
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Actionable Takeaways from Tracee’s Career Path
If you’re looking at Tracee’s trajectory and wondering how to apply that "it factor" to your own life or brand, here’s the breakdown of what actually worked for her. It wasn't just luck.
- Master the technicals first. Tracee learned the "craft" of modeling—walking, lighting, angles—before she tried to be an icon. Whether you're in marketing, art, or tech, you have to know the rules before you can break them.
- Don't be afraid to pivot. She could have stayed a model and had a perfectly fine career. Instead, she went back to school and started over in a different lane. If your current path feels like you're "playing a character" that doesn't fit, change the script.
- Own your lineage but build your own brand. She never denied being Diana Ross's daughter, but she created a visual identity that was entirely separate from the Motown era. She traded the sequins for avant-garde silhouettes and power suits.
- Use your "former" life. She didn't leave modeling behind; she integrated it. Use your past experiences—even the ones that seem unrelated—to give your current work more depth. Her acting is better because she knows how to move. Her business, Pattern Beauty, is better because she knows how to market an image.
The Tracee Ellis Ross model era wasn't just a footnote. It was the foundation. It gave her the skin thick enough to handle Hollywood and the eye sharp enough to change the way we think about "middle-aged" beauty today. She’s proving that you don't just "age out" of being a model; you evolve into something much more interesting.
The next time you see her on a red carpet, look at her feet. Look at her posture. That’s thirty-plus years of professional experience in every single frame. She’s not just posing for a photo; she’s commanding the room, exactly like she did at the Mugler show in '91.
To really understand the impact of her early work, look up the archives of Essence or Vogue from the early 90s. You’ll see a young woman who wasn't just "pretty," but someone who was clearly preparing for a much bigger stage. The career wasn't an accident; it was an evolution.